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Letters to Cyclingnews - March 21, 2004

Here's your chance to get more involved with Cyclingnews. Comments and
criticism on current stories, races, coverage and anything cycling related
are welcomed, even pictures if you wish. Letters should be brief (less
than 300 words), with the sender clearly identified. They may be edited
for space and clarity; please stick to one topic per letter. We will normally
include your name and place of residence, but not your email address unless
you specify in the message.

Each week's best letter gets our 'letter of the week' award. We look
for for letters that contain strong, well-presented opinions; humour;
useful information or unusual levels of sheer helpfulness.

Letter of the week

A signed copy of William Fotheringham's
Tom Simpson bio is on its way to Jordan.

Bjarne Riis

I just thought I'd draw people's attention to a perhaps obvious
but understated point that Bjarne Riis is a phenomenal team director--in
my opinion, certainly the best in the sport. Apparently, every single
rider performs better with CSC than with his former team. Good riders
become great, older fading stars find a few last moments of glory,
and super-talents finally make good on their potential under Riis'
watchful eye.

Case in point: Jalabert found two amazing years at the Tour and
San Sebastian at the bitter end of his career with Riis; Hamilton
became a superstar in the Tour, Giro, and at Liege; Sastre became
a stage-winning force in the grand tours; and now Jaksche has two
impressive stage race titles under his belt, Bobby Julich finally
seems to have gotten his mojo back, and the ever-powerful Jens Voight
looks better than ever.

Let's also not forget the team victories, especially at the Tour,
and the truly outstanding performances from lesser-heralded riders
like Andrea Peron, Nicki Soerensen, and Jakob Piil. The most inspiring
thing about Riis' success at CSC, though, stems from the fact that
he's not a dictator like Ferretti or Saiz, nor is he simply a tactician
or chess player with the sport's most obviously talented and experienced
team (a la Lefevre with his countless squads of classics gods throughout
the years). Instead, Riis focuses on team work, mental preparation,
and new training regimens that allow for individual breakthroughs
in riders within a very supportive team structure. His own riders
stress in every interview how Riis prepares and motivates the riders
so well but then gives them a little breathing room and freedom
to ride their own race (see Jaksche's recent interview, among others).

Now, Riis is, without a doubt, still a very good tactician; however,
he is first and foremost a master of race preparation and all of
the intangibles that go into getting a human being--not a machine--to
realize his own enormous potential. This ought to be especially
welcomed by every one who has been lashing out at the use of race
radios lately because of the way team directors can now kill the
spirit of racing.

If you want to see inspiring performances these days, you need
look no further than Riis' past and present protégés. And if you
don't believe how good he is, I can assure you that there's a reason
Tyler Hamilton--despite no longer riding for Riis--still emails
Bjarne all of the SRM data from his training; and when Tyler reached
out to shake Riis' hand at the end of an epic solo breakaway and
one of his career's true highpoints, that was no insignificant gesture.
It was a clear acknowledgement that Bjarne Riis had brought Tyler
Hamilton up to that level--a level that had already existed in Tyler
Hamilton in the form of potential but that Johan Bruyneel's more
mechanical use of him had stifled--and Riis' qualities as a superior
motivator surely played no small part in Tyler Hamilton's ability
to twice endure broken shoulders in grand tours, as well.

Kudos, Bjarne Riis. I can't wait to see what you have in store
for us later in the year with a (no doubt) breakthrough-ready Kurt
Asle-Arvesen, experienced Michele Bartoli, and irrepressibly talented
Ivan Basso.

Radios #1

In response to Mr. Stewart-Sturge's
views. If you believe that the local radio-free cat 3 event is pure and
more exciting than pro racing with radios, then by all means go to the industrial
park and have a ball. The common thread here (5 out of 5) is that radios destroy
spontaneity. The word is that "the first thing a pro does in a breakaway is
radio back to the D.S." Besides being simplistic and often untrue, I'll offer
the latest news as evidence. Look at the last two action packed, exciting stages
of Paris-Nice. Attacks, counterattacks, chases and breaks. All predicated on
the strength,and skill of the protagonists. Do you really believe that Sanchez
or Vinokourov were robots, doing the bidding of their directors? Sanchez made
a bold and brave move and suffered through purgatory in the final 5km, while
Vino's superb performance had very little to do with a director's instruction.
Radio instructions can only do so much to control a rider: if he or she doesn't
have the strength and will, the instruction cannot be carried out.

Radios have become a much appreciated tool of the trade. Instead of misinformed
armchair critics, ask the pros and the vast majority will support their effectiveness,
and will also argue that racing is still the wonderful chess match on wheels
that it always was. We can't always rely on the race organization for timely
and accurate split times to the break or chase, so now with radios we are able
to make decisions (often between ourselves as well as between riders and D.S.)
about when or whether to chase, so we can fit more action into the same amount
of race time. Radios are excellent during mechanical or crash situations and
again speed up the same response we would have had without the radio. As far
as safety, I can't count the number of times I've avoided a crash thanks to
a broadcast of "roadworks/slippery metal bridge/passing ambulance". Another
example; chasing through the caravan and seconds from impacting a suddenly decelerating
team car, but I was warned off by my director who had heard over general race
radio about said team's rider stopping. Had he gotten such a warning, Phinney
may have saved himself agony and facial reconstruction in just such a collision
years ago during the Tour.

Some say we are robots being fed a constant stream of instructions. The truth
is far less sci-fi. The fact is that we still have to train hard, eat right,
show up motivated, and turn that motivation into brilliant athletic performances.

Radios #2

The fallacy of these examples of controlled riding in the Tour -- of the 'look
at USPS' variety especially -- is so clear that most children could see it.
Is USPS the only team with radios? Is the ability to control the race only a
feature of their strategy? Is bike racing so complicated that the basics of
tactical racing elude 'lesser' DSs and riders? Come on. Do you really believe
that this sort of 'just in time' coaching is what separates better and worse
DS's? The skills of race preparation and management exceed what happens over
the walkie-talkie.

And, last I looked, all the D1 teams had radios -- there's no tactical competitive
advantage, just another version of a level field where the riders still determine
the outcome. Riders still have great days and poor days, blow up, screw up,
miss breaks, ignore orders -- and perform amazing feats of strength and will.
There's no 'robotic symphony' in bike racing, and if there is, it's more related
to drug enhanced physiology than broadcast-quality coaching.

I'm not a big fan of radio control either, I don't know why, I just don't like
it. For me, it probably comes down to a sort of nostalgic sense of the aesthetics
of racing. But the various arguments to nostalgia are meaningless in a sporting
context that changes whether we like it or not, and the 'look at the USPS machine,
they wouldn't exist without radio' tack is just silly. Why are such arguments
even necessary? If you don't like it, just say so; if race fans cared, en masse,
who knows what UCI might do? But they really don't, do they? That's because
no one agrees on the effect radios have -- not even the DSs or the riders, who
are obviously and interestingly split on the issue.

Radios #3

Radios make races less competitive? Less exciting? Less spontaneous? They've
turned the riders into virtual robots? They've driven all guts and glory from
the sport? Where WAS I when all these TERRIBLE DEVELOPMENTS that have RUINED
CYCLING occurred?

Oh yeah... I was watching the 2003 Tour. And Vino in Paris-Nice. And Petacchi
in the Giro. And U.S. Postal versus ONCE in the Vuelta. And... and... and...

Keep the damn radios. They make the riders safer and, from what I can see,
simply mean that you have to be a special rider, not just an aggressive or lucky
one, to truly animate a race.

Radios, Chalkboards, and Fairness

I think race radios make racing more fair, rather than less, since it allows
more riders to know what is going on. Prior to radios, the only riders who really
knew what was going on at the front of the race were those who were there, not
because they see the events as they happen, but since, lets not forget, they
are the ones who can best see the 'official time gaps' and rider numbers written
on the motorcycle chalkboards! If one believes that racers should be attentive
for their information, rather than informed remotely, then we need to be talking
about eliminating the motorcycle whiteboards, not just radios! We're all familiar
with the good-old amateur racing situation -- if they're out of sight, you just
don't know! I say keep the radios.

US MTB racing

I can't bite my tongue any longer. Jeremiah Bishop has now ended the U.S. NORBA
win drought by taking
the XC win in Waco. Last year he nearly took the U.S. Championship, was
the highest placed American at Worlds last year, and is now well positioned
to make the U.S. Olympic team...and he still doesn't even have a full factory
contract. Trek couldn't manage to bump him up to their full factory squad. I
guess they had to spend all their money on Travis Brown and his played out image.
Travis may be a great guy, nothing against him, but lets get some merit-based
system here.

I've known Jeremiah since his first year as a senior when he showed up at Canaan
to race for the Clif Bar composite team I had put together for the 24 hrs of
Canaan. He showed up with his bike and his clothes, nothing else. And that pretty
much is representative of what he has done for about 10 years now; live hand-to-mouth,
busting his butt trying to scratch together enough money to be able to try to
make it in this sport with little or no help from others. A meager stipend and
some equipment finally came his way, and now he still isn't getting his due.
I could reel off a list of guys I know in the same boat, road and MTB. It answers
the question of why we can't seem to compete at the same level as everyone else
on the international level. We make it all but impossible to cobble out even
a meager living for all but those who are willing to put their lives on hold
and hope that something comes their way, someday. A handful of riders get superstar
salaries while the rest scramble for scraps, hoping that it will eventually
pay off.

While Ryder and Co. have articles about their new swanky home and pimp rides
(cars, not bikes) guys like Jeremiah, who has now finally actually beaten those
guys, not just been chasing them, are simply struggling to make ends meet. I
hear Jeremiah at least got a sizeable bump in his pay, even if he doesn't get
the place on the factory team. But still, give the guy the respect he deserves.
And stop wondering why our MTB riders can't compete.

WADA and Armstrong #1

Dick Pound is the head of a very powerful agency, and as such has great responsibility.
He needs to be fair and just; he should not be making sweeping unfounded allegations;
I am surprised that he wasn't asked to step down after such a foolish statement.

As to Lance using cortisone, well I am sure that if you asked Dick Pound he
wasn't referring to the treatment of saddle sores. Besides, and not that it
really matters, but Lance was 'cleared to use the cortisone'. That is, he was
allowed to use it; don't confuse this by saying he tested non-negative and then
was cleared.

WADA and Armstrong #2

As the best known cyclist on the planet, Lance Armstrong was right to criticize
Dick Pound for his ill-advised generalization that all TdF riders are on banned
substances. Pound's remarks make me wonder if he's been paying any attention
the drug testing that the Tour has implemented since 1998 and to the tests over
the years that Lance himself has taken and passed. And correct my memory, but
hasn't the WADA tested Armstrong in the off season?

Yes, some riders continue to take performance enhancing drugs and some have
been caught and punished and the testing program is far from foolproof, but
cycling is light years ahead of Major League Baseball.

WADA and Armstrong #3

It is also "hard to put power to the pedals" with swollen glands and a sore
throat! If one were to follow Mr. Schopfer's "definition" of performance enhancement,
then such drugs as antibiotics would fall under said category. I believe that
Mr. Armstrong has every right/duty to defend himself as well as his fellow riders
against Mr. Pound's spurious generalizations and I would find it "funny" if
a rider of Armstrong's stature and influence did *not* offer some type of rebuttal.
Furthermore, to draw an analogy between Armstrong's use of a cortisone cream
for the treatment of saddle sores and such drugs as EPO and HGH is faulty reasoning.
Period. (Are sports drinks performance enhancing drugs because they prevent
electrolyte depletion?!)

Lastly, I would imagine that there is a fair amount of doping in the pro peloton
but I firmly believe that all riders are innocent until proven otherwise and
for Mr. Pound to make such inflammatory statements is just plain bad business.
Do not fear, those who dope will pay the price one way or another.

The "World" Cycling Series

The "World" Cycling Series? (First
Edition News, March 18th). Entirely run in North America? Where's the "World"
in that? Are you all Baseball Fans? Do you realise how much this reinforces
the idea that Americans are arrogant SOB's who care nothing for the rest of
the World?

While riders from the USA have made their mark on World cycling in a big way,
calling a domestic criterium series the "World Series" is an insult to the countries
which are still the major forces in Cycling. Call it the "All-American", or
support the World Cup by running at leat one World Cup race in the USA, where
you would have the top teams from the First Division present with their best
riders.

Doping

Is not the underlying question whether the words 'sport' and 'professionalism'
are compatible. When I was a child we would say, 'Cheats never prosper' and
,'Once a cheat, always a cheat'. Childhood seems a long way off now,

Iban Mayo #1

I could not agree more agree with
this opinion. Iban Mayo is a very talented rider who WILL be the next TDF
champ (not this year!). He is an excellent climber, his only problem is that
he needs to have more consistency. In '03 TDF he was there with Lance when they
crashed, but LA put himself back in the race faster.

Iban Mayo #2

If Iban Mayo has learned to time trial, the Euskatel team will have exactly
twice as many powerful riders for the TTT as they did in 2003. Unfortunately,
he and Zubeldia will still end up with a 2:30 deficit to the USPS/CSC/Telekom/Iles
Balears trains after that stage and they will be battling for the lower steps
on the podium.

Iban Mayo #3

Mayo has already shown in the past that he has potential for time-trials.

Being just 27 with only 59kg to carry in the mountains, and huge determination
to improve, he is certainly the cyclist to watch to pose the real threat to
Armstrong this year. The uphill TT definitely favours him (and Vinokourov) over
Ullrich. Too bad he will probably lose too much precious time in the team time
trial.

Armstrong's brakes

Did anyone else notice the centre-pull brakes on Lance's
bike in the Murcia TT? Are these prototype Dura-Ace 2005? Or just some old
bits found in the back of the US Postal team truck? I know which I'd put my
money on.

In fact, they're 1982/83 Shimano Dura-Ace AX. This was an 'aero' styled group
- one of the first. The brakes don't work terribly well, but in a TT you don't
expect to have to slam on the anchors hard, so that doesn't matter too much.

My guess is that Armstrong uses them because they're slightly more aerodynamic
than a regular brake, as they sit entirely within the shape of the frame.
Does this really matter? Probably not by more than a second or two over 40km,
at the most, but if you're a top-level racer and you *think* it makes a difference,
then it does - racing's as much about psychology as about physiology and physics.

Fixing Cipo's problem

What's up with the king of style? In most recent photos of Cipo sprinting for
the line, for second I might add, his helmet is askew. He looks like a dork.
I think that's the real reason his performance is a bit off. Dorks never get
the chicks, and dorks never win the sprints. Straighten up that helmet Cipo
- problems solved!

Sean Kelly and the 1992 Milan-San Remo

It is possible that Kelly could have been regarded as a dark horse at that
point: he was approaching his 36th birthday and in the twilight of his career.
However, this ignores the fact that he had won the last major classic of 1991
- the Tour of Lombardy - and that Milan-San Remo would be his 9th major classic
victory (he had already won it in 1986, along with Paris-Roubaix in 1984 and
86, Liege-Bastogne-Liege in 1984 and 89, and the Tour of Lombardy in 1983, 85
and 91, not to mention Ghent-Wevelgem in 1988 and Paris-Tours in 1984). No reference
at all is made to this pedigree in Dr. Ferrari's article; perhaps some sort
of editorial input could have been used to remedy the omission.

The most fashionable men of the peloton

This my not seem newsworthy, but I just wanted to let the world know that my
two favorite riders are the Frenchman Laurent Brochard and the Russian Vladimir
Karpets (has there ever been a cooler name?).

Not only are they great competitors, but they are also the most stylish men
in the pro peloton. Both men proudly sport lavish Neapoleonic and eastern-bloc
style mullets, respectively, which put them light years ahead of other wanna-be
fashionistas in the peloton, such as, say, Scottsman David Millar.

Sure, these days every other Tom, Dick and Harry can be seen walking the mall
with a mullet and fancy pants, and the runways of Milan are chock full of mullet
nuts- now that the mullet is THE trendy cut of the day.

But where were those people 5 years ago when even your mom was hosting a website
dedicated to maligning the mullet? Laurent and Vladimir had their hairstyles
on display for the world back when it was very unpopular to do so. But they
are fashion leaders, not followers and I don't think they get the credit they
deserve.

We're not sprinters

I think Aki Sato's statement
of "Although the pro sprinters have to be fit, in the real world of Cat 4's
and 3's, sprinters do not have to be as fit - they just need enough fitness
to get to the finish" perfectly sums up why there is this seemingly constant
bickering between climbers and sprinters in the everyday world of cycling (I'm
not talking about Mayo and McEwan here, more like Smith and Jones).

Undoubtedly there are massive differences at the pro level between the two.
And there will always be the debate over who is better, fitter, whatever. I'm
making a different point here.

In the "real" world of Cat 4's and 3's (or B and C Grade in Australia), the
problem is this. The "sprinters" manage to get through a race by just hanging
on, saving themselves, letting others chase down the breaks, then finding that
bit extra to get up in the sprint. They then find themselves getting points
and eventually moving up a grade/category. What invariably happens then (and
I'm sure we've all seen it) is that they don't have the fitness to hang on in
their new grade, suffer in a few races, get dropped then return to their original
grade, having achieved nothing personally and contributed nothing to the racing.
Those that manage to lift themselves to the new level of competition and improve,
well, good on them. They obviously deserve it.

Compare this to the more all round rider who sprints a bit, climbs a bit and
generally improves their overall cycling performance. They get a few results
here and there, eventually move up a grade/category, and invariably end up staying
at the new grade because they are more capable in all regards, not just one.

I would put it to the erstwhile readers that in our "real" world, there is
no such thing as a "sprinter". We are all just cyclists who should always be
trying to improve all aspects of our cycling, be it sprinting, climbing, time
trialling, whatever are our weaknesses. Saying to yourself "I'm a sprinter"
(and taking the associated attitude of saving yourself for the end of a race)
at our level is denying something to both yourself and your fellow competitors.
Saying "my sprint is my strongest asset" is a fair comment, but we shouldn't
fool ourselves - none of us are sprinters.

By the way, Aki - well written letter - I'm not having a go at that! Reading
it felt like being in the midst of a sprint. Well done.

Jame's Diarrhea

I really enjoy Jame Carney's
Diary on your site. Mostly I enjoy it because he's a bit nuts but he also
manages to give an overview of track events with a little insight to the drama
that can happen inside a velodrome. If I wanted to know that so and so won the
points race with X number of points, I'd just look at the results. Jame's Diary
gives the track scene some much needed life.

Bobby Julich Interview

Thanks for the interview.
It makes me look forward even more to seeing Bobby race in the Wachovia Series
races here in the Philadelphia area in early June. One comment though, Manayunk
is a neighborhood in Philadelphia not an area outside the city. Keep up the
good work, your racing coverage is the best.

Recent letters pages

March 12 letters - Radios,
WADA and Mr Armstrong, Speculation about Genevieve, Doping, Aero helmets,
Brad McGee, Chubby Lance?, How many more have to die?, Iban Mayo, Lance's
Performance, Marco Pantani - who is guilty?, Rabobank and U. S. Postal, There's
more to life than sprinting, Tour without Kelme?

February 13 letters - Sevilla
challenging for the Tour?, How will the Tour 2004 unfold?, Tour de France
2004, Marion Clignet diary: Training with the boys, More to cycling than the
Tour, Teams & sponsors, Cross wheels, Doping, How to lean in corners, Phil,
Paul and Bob

February 6 letters - Tour of
Qatar, Team names, Australian team, National & world jerseys & regulations,
Tour de France 2004, How to lean in corners?, Cyclo-cross & more in Japan

February 2 letters - Australian
team, Cofidis: All publicity is good publicity? Anyone Traveling to TDF 2004?
24 hour race timing, World Jerseys, Team Names, Training location, How to
lean in corners? Mullet time again? Tour de France 2004, Aussies Around the
World